What do Judy Blume's Forever, J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye, Robie Harris' It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health, and Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye have in common? They have all been challenged (that is, a library or school has filed a formal request to remove a particular title based on content or perceived appropriateness). Harris' It's Perfectly Normal holds the distinction of having been the most challenged book of 2005, while Morrison's The Bluest Eye was successfully challenged by the school board in Littleton, CO. The good news for those committed to freedom of expression is that, according to the ALA, the number of books slated for the chop from libraries last year was at its lowest ever. Why the decreasing number of challenged titles? Judith Krug, director of the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom, muses that the trend may stem in part from the fact that the watchful eyes of our guardians of moral literature have shifted their gaze. According to Ms. Krug (see the USA Today article), "There's only so much energy to spend on situations or concerns outside the home ... A large majority of our challenges deal with what children are reading in schools and many adults are now so concerned about what's on the Internet that they have refocused." It seems everyone is on Myspace these days, even concerned, censorship-minded parents.
What do Judy Blume's Forever, J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye, Robie Harris' It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health, and Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye have in common? They have all been challenged (that is, a library or school has filed a formal request to remove a particular title based on content or perceived appropriateness). Harris' It's Perfectly Normal holds the distinction of having been the most challenged book of 2005, while Morrison's The Bluest Eye was successfully challenged by the school board in Littleton, CO. The good news for those committed to freedom of expression is that, according to the ALA, the number of books slated for the chop from libraries last year was at its lowest ever. Why the decreasing number of challenged titles? Judith Krug, director of the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom, muses that the trend may stem in part from the fact that the watchful eyes of our guardians of moral literature have shifted their gaze. According to Ms. Krug (see the USA Today article), "There's only so much energy to spend on situations or concerns outside the home ... A large majority of our challenges deal with what children are reading in schools and many adults are now so concerned about what's on the Internet that they have refocused." It seems everyone is on Myspace these days, even concerned, censorship-minded parents.
From Matt: The scriptwriters made quite a few changes from the book, but they were all for the best - and booklover though I am I have to admit that its better to see magic than to read about it.
From Mina: I adore this film. Monsieur Hulot’s very modern sister and brother-in-law don’t know what to do with Tati’s charmingly untidy and bungling protagonist, who inhabits a world where meaning is still more important than appearances.
From Carey: A must see Hayao Miyazaki’s anime is Laputa: Castle in the Sky, originally released in 1986. A fantasy film that explores the altruistic and compassionate nature of humans, aspects lost through repeated exposure to power, technology, and the complexities brought by the combination of the two. 
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